Cuomo Moves Closer to Permitting Fracking in Upstate NY

According to an article in today’s New York Times Governor Cuomo is poised to open up portions of the Southern Tier of New York State to fracking. Trouble is, those counties — primarily Broome, Chemung, Chenango, Steuben and Tioga — are also home to numerous farms and small cities and towns. This decision, to sacrifice a handful of poorer counties while sparing more affluent and politically influential areas, simply strengthens our position: fracking pollutes the water, air and soil — none of which recognize county boundaries — and we oppose it unconditionally. Fracking also requires enormous collateral activity: the disposal of millions of gallons of toxic waste water, the construction of compressor stations, gas pipelines and the transport of materials and men by thousands of trucks over tiny rural roads — in short, the industrialization of the landscape, both within and outside of the affected counties. While some areas may escape actual drilling under this proposal (although that is not a given), they will not necessarily be spared from those collateral activities. Chefs for the Marcellus remains committed to a ban on fracking in New York State. We urge you to sign on to our campaign today and write to Governor Cuomo telling him you want a ban on fracking in New York State. Also, tickets are now ON SALE to our fabulous July 26 event!